Cook Found Guilty in Slaying Over Poached-Egg Order

Jaxon Van Derbeken, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, April 21, 1999

1999-04-21 04:00:00 PDT San Francisco -- A former cook at a popular 24- hour diner in San Francisco was found guilty yesterday of first-degree murder for shooting a waitress to death after a dispute about poached eggs.

Hasem Zayed, 61, of San Francisco, showed no emotion as the verdict was read in San Francisco Superior Court.

Zayed was convicted of murder with the use of a handgun in the slaying of longtime co-worker Helen Menicou, 47. The Millbrae resident was shot to death at the Pinecrest Diner on Geary Street on July 24, 1997.

Zayed faces a maximum of 25 years to life in state prison when he is sentenced next month.

"Nothing can make up for the violent death of a wife or mother or friend," he said. "All an appropriate verdict does is give the survivors a chance to heal and move on. This jury gave the Menicou family that opportunity, and I'm grateful."

Deputy Public Defender Stephen Rosen had portrayed the defendant as a dim-witted, troubled man who snapped after being scolded repeatedly by Menicou for having served a dish, poached eggs, that was not on the menu.

Zayed testified that he was under stress before the shooting because he had lost more than $5,000 gambling. He said he wanted to be reconciled with Menicou the day of the shooting, but she kept pestering him, and he opened fire.

Family members said Zayed and his attorney had smeared Menicou as a tormentor, when in fact she had lent the defendant money and brought him food when he was sick.

"She was a beautiful person who sacrificed her whole life for her family," her husband said.

Giannini portrayed Zayed as a "cold-blooded killer" who had brought a gun to work and boastfully announced his intentions beforehand to other workers.

"My mom was a great lady," said Menicou's son, Andy. "Mr. Giannini did a great job. He proved him (Zayed) a liar, and it put some closure to all of this."